Prospèr Honagali's plight encapsulates the tragedy of his country. The 50-year-old priest from the Central African Republic lost half of his family -- 15 people -- between 2007 and 2009. Their lives were claimed by violent crime, political conflict and disease, all of which are rampant in this war-torn and deeply impoverished African country.

"Two of my relatives died in attacks by the Zaraguinas," Honagali said, referring to marauding criminal gangs who have taken advantage of the country's political chaos to pillage

The traditional image of life in tented, sprawling camps no longer tells the full refugee story. As the world urbanises, refugees too are increasingly moving to built up areas - including large towns and cities. Today, almost half of the world's 10.5 million refugees reside in urban areas, with only one-third in camps (UNHCR, 2009). Refugees move to the city in the hope of finding a sense of community, safety and economic independence. However, in reality, what many actually find is harassment, physical assault and poverty. Yet there has been scant research

The IRC will work closely with district authorities in Kitgum to create 60 new village savings and loans associations (VSLAs), which allow poor families to access financial advice and loans at very low interest rates - thereby increasing their economic independence.

"The former protracted civil war

2009 marks the 18th anniversary of the "16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence" campaign.

It's 2 am when Apio Agnes' mobile phone rings. She's suddenly awake and ready to go.

It's her night to answer calls to a 24-hour hotline dedicated to anyone who needs advice or support on rape, domestic violence, sexual harassment or other forms of gender-based violence. The hotline gives victims and potential targets of violence the chance to talk to a trained professional in confidence.

"I've received calls late in the

"In the past, large-scale cattle-raiding has been part and parcel of the culture in Karamoja," says IRC conflict expert Abongi Patrick. "Groups of 50 or more men would launch vicious attacks on rival clans, stealing thousands of heads of cattle and killing

If passed, the Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act would require the Obama Administration

Most nights here, the pitch-black darkness sends people scurrying for the safety of nearby camps. As recently as two years ago, Mucwini, a camp for displaced people in Kitgum district in the far reaches of northern Uganda, was under 24-hour military protection from rebel group the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). The rebels had waged a brutal 20-year war in northern Uganda before signing a ceasefire with the government in 2006.

Tonight, instead of heading home, the residents of Mucwini camp are gathering in front of the health center to

Today, Yp has reason to be optimistic. With the signing of a ceasefire between the LRA and the government in 2006,

14 Apr 2008 - Forced to flee during Africa's longest-running civil war, the Sudanese refugees living in International Rescue Committee-supported settlements in northern Uganda have spent as long as twenty years outside of their homeland. Their time in exile has not been peaceful - the Uganda to which the refugees fled has itself been wracked by war and unrest for nearly the same period of time, and as refugees they have faced frequent dislocation, movement, and uncertainty.

Repatriation became a possibility in